Eupatorium plant named ‘Phantom’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Eupatorium  plant named ‘Phantom’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; and inflorescences with red purple-colored disc florets.

Botanical designation: Eupatorium hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Phantom’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Eupatorium plant, botanically known as Eupatorium hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Phantom’.

The new Eupatorium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rijpwetering, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Eupatorium cultivars with attractive flower coloration.

The new Eupatorium originated from a cross-pollination by the Inventor in 2002 of an unnamed selection of (Eupatorium maculatum cultivar Atropurpureum×Eupatorium rugosum)×Eupatorium maculatum cultivar Atropurpureum, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Eupatorium maculatum cultivar Atropurpureum, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Eupatorium was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled environment in Rijpwetering, The Netherlands in 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Eupatorium by softwood cuttings in a controlled environment in Rijpwetering, The Netherlands since 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Eupatorium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Phantom has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Phantom’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Phantom’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Eupatorium:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.     -   2. Basal branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Inflorescences with red purple-colored disc florets.

Compared to plants of the parents, plants of the new Eupatorium are much more compact.

Plants of the new Eupatorium can be compared to plants of other selections of Eupatorium maculatum and Eupatorium rugosum known to the Inventor. Compared to other selections of Eupartorium maculatum and Eupatorium rugosum known to the Inventor, plants of the new Eupatorium are much more compact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Eupatorium. The photograph shows the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Eupatorium. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Phantom’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Rijpwetering, The Netherlands during the summer and early autumn in an outdoor nursery and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Eupatorium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 15° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were about one year old when the photographs and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Eupatorium hybrida cultivar Phantom. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Unnamed selection of (Eupatorium maculatum             cultivar Atropurpureum×Eupatorium rugosum)×Eupatorium             maculatum cultivar Atropurpureum, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Eupatorium maculatum cultivar Atropurpureum,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to develop roots.—About 20 to 30 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 60 to 70 days at             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; light brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Compact and upright plant habit;             narrow inverted triangle; basal branching habit;             inflorescences held above and beyond the foliage on strong             peduncles. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 94 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 55 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 65 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Internode length: About 10.7 cm. Aspect: Mostly upright to             slightly outwardly spreading. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: N186C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—In whorls of three, simple.         -   Length.—About 16.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate to ovate.         -   Apex.—Long apiculate to narrowly acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Mostly smooth, pubescence along main             veins.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 137C. Developing             foliage, lower surface: 138A. Fully expanded foliage, upper             surface: 139A to 147A; venation, 139A to 147A. Fully             expanded foliage, lower surface: 137B; venation, 146C.         -   Petiole length.—About 1 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Petiole color, upper surface.—166A.         -   Petiole color, lower surface.—146C tinged with 166A to 166B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Inflorescences arranged in terminal and axillary             compound corymbs. Inflorescences positioned upright above             and beyond the foliage on sturdy peduncles. Freely flowering             habit; about 1,150 inflorescences develop per plant.             Inflorescences persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant; sweet.         -   Time to flower.—Under natural season conditions, plants             flower from late August to late September in The             Netherlands.         -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about three weeks on the plant.         -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Narrowly oblong. Color: 76B to 76C.         -   Corymb diameter.—About 27.5 cm.         -   Corymb height.—About 29 cm.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7 mm. Depth (height):             About 1.2 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 3 mm. Receptacle             height: About 9 mm.         -   Ray florets.—No ray florets observed.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate. Length: About             1.2 cm. Diameter, apex: About 2.5 mm. Diameter, base: About             0.5 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About             eleven. Color: Immature: 61A. Mature: Apex: N74C to N74D.             Mid-section: N74D to 75B. Base: 75B to 75D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 19. Length:             About 3 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly elliptic.             Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: 75D; towards the base, 145C to 145D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 20.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright to about 20° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: N186C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per floret: Five.             Anther shape: Linear. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther             color: 187A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Yellow.             Gynoecium. Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About             8 mm. Stigma shape: Tapering. Stigma color: 76B. Style             length: About 5 mm. Style color: 76A. Ovary color: 145A.         -   Seeds.—Length: About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Color:             197A to 197B. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Eupatorium have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Eupatorium. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Clematis have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to be suitable for     USDA Zones 6 to 9. 

1. A new and distinct Eupatorium plant named ‘Phantom’ as illustrated and described. 